Caerphilly engineering company fined after workers' fingers severed

Date:

13 July 2010

Release No:

817/W/10

A worker at a Caerphilly company suffered serious injuries after his fingers were severed in an unguarded machine, a court has heard.

Encon Engineering (Wales) Ltd of Bartlett Street Industrial Estate, Caerphilly, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident in which machinist Rhys Davies lost four fingers and the top of his thumb. He was working on a machine used to mill titanium plates when the incident happened.

Mr Davies, 25, of Cardiff, had three fingers reattached by surgeons but his injuries remain severe, and he is continuing to receive treatment.

At Caerphilly Magistrates' Court, the company pleaded guilty to a charge under the Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £8,000 with £2,000 costs.

HSE inspector Steve Curry said:

"Mr Davies' injuries were horrific and unnecessary - the incident could have easily been prevented had the machine been properly guarded.

"Employers have a legal duty to ensure that when employees are working with machinery, adequate guarding is provided to prevent workers being injured.

"The use of powerful engineering machinery was a day to day activity of this company, so it is inexcusable that an injury like this has been allowed to happen."

Employers wishing to know more on safe use of machinery and their requirements under the law can obtain further information from the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/puwerind.htm.

Notes to editors

1. Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 state that: Every employer shall ensure that measures are taken in accordance with paragraph (2) which are effective -
   • to prevent access to any dangerous part of machinery or to any rotating stock-bar; or
   • to stop the movement of any dangerous part of machinery or rotating stock-bar before any part of a person enters a danger zone.

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR Wales